Container safety closure

ABSTRACT

A safety closure insertable within the neck of a container and depending a short distance into the container to be used in conjunction with a dropper-dispenser for dispensing liquids from the container. The safety closure is sealed to the container with a flange compressed by the container, the closure having sidewalls depending from said flange along the neck of the container and terminating in a bottom opening and a movable closure element urged into a closed position by spring action.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Walter- J Zytko Walnut Creek, Calif.747,403

Appl. No. Filed 222/49OX 222/563X 222/490X 222/547X 2,310,777 2/1943Giavotto......... 2,400,955 5/1946 Samel..... 2,601,039 6/1952Livingstone 3,029,987

[22] June 12, l968 [45] Patented Jan. 26, 1971 [73] Assignee AbbottLaboratories North Chicago, Ill.

4/1962 Gronemeyer............::- a corporation of IllinoisContinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. Primary Examiner-Samuel F.Coleman 647,544, June 20. 1967, now abandoned. Att0rneyRobert L. NiblackABSTRACT: A safety closure insertable within the neck of a container anddepending a short distance into the container to be used in conjunctionwith a dropper-dispenser for dispensing liquids from the container. Thesafety closure is sealed to the container with a flange compressed bythe com tainer, the closure having sidewalls depending from said flangealong the neck of the container and terminating in a bottom opening anda movable closure element urged into a closed position by spring action.

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PATENTEU JAN26|971 SHEET 3 [IF 3 CONTAINER SAFETY CLOSURE Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 647,544,filed June 20, 1967, and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various types of medicaments and otherliquids are provided in containers such as bottles, to be dispensed by adropper-dispenser having a squeeze bulb at the top end thereof. In theusual form, the dropper-dispenser and squeeze bulb are made integrallywith the closure cap of the container such that to dispense liquid fromthe bottle, the bulb is manually compressed and released, drawing liquidinto the dropper, and the cap unscrewed to remove the dropper from thebottle. Once the cap and dropper assembly is removed, however, thecontainer is open, exposing the liquid contents to possiblecontamination from the air and to the danger of loss due to spillage. Inaddition, screwcap closures are generally very easily removable bychildren, presenting the danger of ingestion of the contents bychildren.

The object of this invention is to provide a safety closure plug for acontainer, such as a bottle, which allows the dropper-dispenser accessto the contents when inserted into the bottle but closes off access whenthe dropper is removed. The plug is inserted into the neck portion ofthe bottle and is engaged there by a tight friction fit or by such othermeans as to make removal of the plug from the bottle extremelydifficult.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The safety plug contemplated by thisinvention includes top side body walls having a peripheral flange aroundthe the top circumference of said body walls. To receive the peripheralflange, the inlet of the container has a tapered portion, the lower edgeof which has a smaller diameter than the flange, and tenninates in ashoulder. When seated against the shoulder, the flange is held incompression. A portion of the lower end of the body wall is providedwith movable means for allowing access to the contents of the bottle bya dropperdispenser when inserted into the bottle through the plug, whichmeans is urged shut when the dispenser is removed. The plug is designedto fit the bottle neck so that the only access to the contents isthrough the plug assembly. In this manner, once the dispenser is removedthe plug is closed and the contents are prevented from spilling out orotherwise being removed from the bottle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to better understand thisinvention, reference is made to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational cross section view of a bottle having oneembodiment of a safety plug engaged within the neck portion thereof;

FIG. 2 is a view of the bottom portion of the plug taken along line 2-2in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational cross section view of a bottle havinganother embodiment of a safety plug engaged within the neck portionthereof and having a dropper-dispenser cap mounted to the threaded neckportion of the bottle, the dropper extending downward through the plug;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view, showing a safety plug molded as a unitarypiece;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational cross section view partially cut away,illustrating a plug engaged within the neck portion of a bottle, theplug being in the closed position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmented view of the jaw assembly taken along line 5-5 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational cross section view of a plug molded as atwo-piece unit and having a spring for urging the jaw into a normallysealed position against the body wall;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the plug embodiment of FIG. 6 lackingthe jaw member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the jaw member including attachmentmeans for fitment with the plug of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational fragmented view of the portion of the plugtaken along line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side elevational cross section view oftheplug of FIG. 6 engaged within the neck portion ofa bottle and having adropper-dispenser inserted through the plug body;

FIG. 9A is a partially cutaway side cross section view of the plugengaged within the upper rim of the neck portion of a bottle;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational cross section view of another embodimentofa plug molded as a unitary piece and having a biased spring to urgethe jaw into a normally sealed position;

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway side elevational cross section view ofstill another embodiment of a safety plug engaged within the neckportion of a bottle.

FIG. 12 is partially cutaway side elevational, cross section view of anadditional embodiment of a safety plug engaged within the neck portionof a bottle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there isshown one embodiment of a safety plug 20 engaged within the neck 21 ofabottle 22. The plug 20 generally consists of a body wall 25 surroundinga cavity 27. Slits 26 transversing the body wall 25 are provided at thelower end 28 of said body wall. The upper end 29 of plug 20 includes aperipheral flange 23 which tests on a peripheral shoulder 24 providedalong the top ridge of the bot tle neck 21. The plug 20 may be made of asubstantially resilient material such as rubber or a plastic such aspolyethylene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyvinyl chloride, amongothers, such that the slits 26 form a-tight seal when in the normallyclosed position by virtue of the resiliency of the material. The upperend 29 of body wall 25 has an external diameter the same or slightlylarger than the internal diameter of the neck 21 such that a tight sealis maintained between the body wall 25 and the interior of the bottleneck 21. Access to the contents of the bottle is only achieved byforcing the slits 26 apart, as by inserting the dropper-dispenser 40(FIG. 3) through said slits 26. When the dropper 40 is removed, thenatural resiliency ofthe body wall 25 draws the slits 26 into a tightseal thereby preventing any further removal of contents from the bottleregardless of how the bottle is positioned or handled.

The plug 20 may be molded as a unitary piece or as two or more pieces.In FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, a unitary plug is generally illustrated. In FIG.3, there is shown a bottle 30 having-a neck 31 containing a plug 32. Theplug 32 is molded as a unitary piece having an upper body wall 33, aninwardly tapered portion 34, and a lower body wall 35. The exteriordiameter of the upper body wall 33 is the same or slightly larger thanthe interior diameter of bottle neck 31 such that a fluidtight seal ismaintained therebetween. A peripheral flange 36 is provided which iscoextensive with the upper body wall 33, said flange resting on the topsurface 37 of the bottle neck 31. The flange 36 cooperates with thebottle cap 38 to provide a tight seal when the cap 38 is threadablymounted on the neck 31. The cap 38 is adapted to contain adropper-dispenser 40 having a squeeze bulb 39 at the top portionthereof. In practice, the dropper-dispenser 40 and the cap 38 aresemipermanently fastened together such that they cooperate as a unitarypiece.

The plug 32 has a cylindrical lower body wall portion 35 consistingessentially of opposed body wall portions 41 and 42 at the bottom of thelower body wall portion 35. Opposed body wall portions 41 and 42 areformed by a partial cutaway segment of the lower body wall 35 in a planeoblique to the horizontal plane 43 of the plug and extending from thebottom end 44 of the body wall 35 to an apex 45, as generally shown inFIG. 3A. The result of such a configuration is that body wall portion 42constitutes a jaw member hinging about apex 45 to sealingly engage thelip 46 formed by the cutaway segment and close off the cavity 47. Theplug may be molded as a uni tary piece as illustrated in FIG. 4, andwhen so molded, the jaw member 42 is molded in the closed position, Toremove liquid contents from the bottle. the dropper-dispenser 40 isinserted into the plug 32 forcing the jaw 42 to open as illustrated bythe phantom lines in FIG. 4. Once liquid has been drawn into the dropper-30, it is removed from the bottle, and the natural resiliency of thebody wall material urges the jaw 42 into sealing engagement with the lip46 of the opposing body wall portion 41.

If desired, and to further improve the efficiency of the plug assembly,the plug 32 may be equipped with a spring element 48 to insure a tightseal between the jaw 42 and the lip 46. The spring 48 is attached at itsone end to the jaw member 42 and at its other end to the body wallportion 35 by appropriate means. In FIG. 3, the spring 48 is shown to beimbedded in the body wall of the jaw 42 at its one end 49 and sandwichedbetween the peripheral flange 36 of the upper body wall 33 and the topsurface 37 of the bottle neck 31 at its other end 50. The particularpoints of attachment of the spring element are unimportant so long asone end of the spring engages the jaw 42 and the other end engages someother portion of the plug 32 or the bottle 30 providing sufficienttension to maintain a tight seal between the jaw 42 and the lip 46 ofthe lower body wall portion 35. The spring may be composed of anysuitable material such as steel, aluminum, or other metal or plasticcapable of providing tension between the appropriate elements.

As previously mentioned, the plug assembly may consist of more than aunitary molded piece. In FIGS. 6 and 7, there is il lustrated a plug 51having an upper body wall portion 52, an inwardly tapered portion 53, alower body wall portion 54, and a peripheral flange 55 coextensive withthe upper body wall 52. The lower body wall 54 iscut away at the endthereof in a plane 56 oblique to the horizontal plane 56 oblique to thehorizontal plane 57 of the plug 51, as illustrated in FIG. 6A. The jawmember 58 is a separate piece molded as a flat sheet of plastic or othersuch suitable material, shaped to the contour of the lip 59 formed bythe cut along the oblique plane 56 in the lower body wall 54. The jaw 58includes an upstanding rib 60 having a slightly enlarged head 61 toserve as the attachment means of the jaw 58 to the plug 51, as shown inFIG. 7. The plug 51 includes a shoulder 62 sloped inwardly along theline of cut of the oblique plane 56 through the lower body wall 54, saidshoulder 62 having an aperture 63 adapted to receive the head 61 of theupstanding rib 60 in a snap-fitting engagement such that the jaw 58 ishingedly mounted to the plug 51 to close off the cavity 64} of the plug51. The jaw 58 is held in a tight liquid seal by a spring element 65mounted at its one end 66 to the plug body wall 54 and at its other end67 to the jaw 58 such that tension is provided between the jaw 58 andthe lip 59 of the lower body wall 54. The spring 65, jaw 58, and thebody wall 541 assembly is generally shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment of the plug of FIG. 6 as inserted inthe neck 71 of a bottle 70 and having a cap 72, including adropper-dispenser 73 and squeeze bulb 74 assembly, threadably mounted tothe neck 71. When the dropperdispenser 73 is inserted through the plug51 into the bottle 70, the jaw 58 is forced into the open position asshown by the solid lines. When the dispenser is removed, the spring 65urges the jaw 58 into the closed position as illustrated by the phantomjaw 58 in FIG. 9. The outside diameter of the upper body wall 52 is thesame or slightly larger than the the inside diameter of the neck 71 suchthat a tight liquid seal is maintained therebetween. The peripheralflange 55 rests on the top surface 75 of the neck 71 to provide anadditional airtight seal when the cap 72 is screwed onto the bottle 70.Alternatively, the peripheral flange 55 may rest in a peripheral step 76provided along the upper periphery of the neck 71 as shown in FIG. 9A.In this embodiment, the cap 72 when screwed onto the bottle 70 wouldrest flush with the flange 55 and the top surface 75 of the neck 71.

FIG. illustrates a modified embodiment of the unitary piece safety plug.The plug 80 includes an upper body wall 81,

an inwardly tapered portion 82, a lower body wall portion 83, and aperipheral flange 84 coextensive with the upper body wall 81. The jaw 85is molded as a portion of the lower body wall 83 as previously describedand illustrated in FIGS. 3, 3A, and 4. A spring member 86 is provided tomaintain a liquidtight seal between the jaw 85 and opposing body wall. Acircumferential groove 87 is provided in the upper body wall portion 81to receive and hold the upper end 88 of the spring 86, which is in theform of a ring. The lower end 89 of the spring 86 is attached to the jaw85 preferably by imbedding same in the jaw material. To facilitate themovement of the jaw 85, a notched groove 90 is provided to serve as ahinge element. To provide additional support, a series of ribs 90 ispositioned around the upper body wall portion 81.

Various other embodiments and modifications of this device are possiblewithout departing from the scope of the inventivc concept. In FIG. 11,there is shown one such possible embodiment. A bottle 91 having a neck92 is shown to contain a safety plug 93. The plug 93 includes a bodywall 94 and a peripheral flange 95 coextensive with the body wall 94 forresting against the top surface 96 of the neck 92. An arcuately-shapedjaw member 97 depends from a portion of the body wall 94 by a hingeelement 98, said hinge element consisting of a constriction in a portionof the body wall 94. The jaw member 97 extends across the open cavity 99of the plug 93 and contacts the interior surface 100 of the bottle 91thereby functioning as a closure for the plug 93. In order to insure atight liquid seal between jaw 97 and the bottle surface 100, a fingerprojection 101 is provided depending from the base 102 of the jaw member97 contacting the opposed interior surface 100' of the bottle 91. Atension spring 103 is positioned between the end 104 of the jaw 97 andthe end 105 of the finger projection 101. To gain access to the contentsof the container, a dropper-dispenser (not shown) is inserted into theplug cavity 99 until it contacts and forces the jaw 97 into the openposition, as illustrated by phantom jaw 97. When the dropper is removed,the tension spring 103 urges the jaw member into the closed position.

FIG. 12 illustrates still another embodiment of the safety plug. In thismodification, the bottle neck is provided with an interior peripheralshoulder 112 near its outlet. The interior of the neck between theshoulder and the bottle outlet comprises a truncated cone, the taperedwall 114 joining the top edge of the bottle 116 to the shoulder edge118, said shoulder edge having a smaller diameter than the bottleoutlet.

Located within the bottle neck is a safety plug 120 whose tubular wall121 is positioned within the bottle neck by a series of ribs 122parallel to the longitudinal axis of said plug. A flange 123 surmountssaid plug, the diameter of the flange normally being somewhat largerthan the shoulder edge 118 so that when the flange 123 is seated againstthe shoulder 112, the flange is held under compression thus maintaininga very tight seal at the outer edge of the flange 124. The plug ispreferably of a resilient material such as polyethylene, rubber, and thelike.

Beneath the ribs 122 is circumferential groove 125 about the exterior ofthe plug body. A jaw member 126, which may be molded integral with saidplug body, is positioned to seal the bottom of said plug.

Pressing the jaw 126 into a closed position is a helical spring 130which has its upper turn 132 seated in the groove 125. Other turns ofthis spring surround the plug body and may be spaced slightly from it. Afinal turn 134 of this spring abuts the surface of the jaw 126 and urgesit into a sealing location. This combination provides a convenientmethod of securing the spring 130 while at the same time providing acentering action so that the force exerted by the dropper-dispenser inopening the jaw member will not displace the spring from its operativelocation. The final turn, lying flat against the exterior of the jaw126, provides a broad bearing surface for secure engagement of thatmember which supplies a more reliable response against accidentaldisplacement.

Various other modifications and designs may be employed based upon thisdisclosure to accomplish the same objective. The body walls of the plugmay be shaped into any suitable form such as cylindrical, rectangular,hexagonal, octagonal, and other such designs so long as a liquid seal ismaintained as between the plug member and the bottle. Although the plugdevices illustrated in this disclosure generally show an inwardlytapered body wall portion such a design is not critical. This designmerely functions to provide air space and room for the springattachment. However, it is to be understood that such a design is notcritical to the operation of this invention.

Furthermore, the plug assemblies illustrated herein may include atamperproof jaw closure, especially where the plug is molded as aunitary piece. For example. with reference to FIG. 4, the plug could bemolded to include a weakened portion at the point of juncture of the jawmember to the opposed body wall as indicated at point Ill. The weakenedportion would function as a tearline which is torn open the first timethe dropper-dispenser is pushed against the jaw member. Hence, once theplug assembly has been used, it will be visibly apparent.

Others may practice this invention in any of the numerous ways whichwill be suggested to one skilled in the art upon reading thisdisclosure. All such practice of the invention is considered to becovered hereby provided it falls within the scope of the appendedclaims.

lclaim:

1. A safety plug for a container having a neck opening to admit adropper-dispenser assembly, said plug comprising:

a. a tubular member having:

I. a first end suitable for sealing engagement with said neck opening; I2. a circumferential groove about its exterior and adjacent said firstend; and 3. a second end locatable within said container; b. movablemeans hingedly mounted to the tubular member at said second end forsealing engagement therewith; and c. a helical spring encircling saidtubular member and having: l. a terminal turn seated in said groove; and2. a single turn bearing on said movable means and urging it againstsaid second end and into sealing engagement therewith.

2. A plug according to claim 1 wherein said single turn is of a smallerdiameter than other turns of said spring.

3. A safety plug according to claim I wherein said movable means has asubstantially planar exterior surface and said single turn bears on saidsurface.

4. A safety plug for a container having a neck opening and an adjacentinterior surface; said plug comprising a tubular member having a firstend engageable with said neck opening and a second end locatable withinsaid container; a jaw member of larger diameter than said neck openinghinged to said second end and adapted to engage said container surfacein sealable relation.

5. A safety plug of claim 4 including a spring transverse said jawmember to urge said jaw into sealing position.

2% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,558,022 Dated January 26, 1971 Inventor(s) Walter zytko It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 1 after the word "the" please insert --bottom-- Signedand sealed this 15th day of June 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SUHUYLER, JR. Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents

1. A safety plug for a container having a neck opening to admit adropper-dispenser assembly, said plug comprising: a. a tubular memberhaving:
 1. a first end suitable for sealing engagement with said neckopening;
 2. a circumferential groove about its exterior and adjacentsaid first end; and
 3. a second end locatable within said container; b.movable means hingedly mounted to the tubular member at said second endfor sealing engagement therewith; and c. a helical spring encirclingsaid tubular member and having:
 1. a terminal turn seated in saidgroove; and
 2. a single turn bearing on said movable means and urging itagainst said second end and into sealing enGagement therewith.
 2. acircumferential groove about its exterior and adjacent said first end;and
 2. a single turn bearing on said movable means and urging it againstsaid second end and into sealing enGagement therewith.
 2. A plugaccording to claim 1 wherein said single turn is of a smaller diameterthan other turns of said spring.
 3. A safety plug according to claim 1wherein said movable means has a substantially planar exterior surfaceand said single turn bears on said surface.
 3. a second end locatablewithin said container; b. movable means hingedly mounted to the tubularmember at said second end for sealing engagement therewith; and c. ahelical spring encircling said tubular member and having:
 4. A safetyplug for a container having a neck opening and an adjacent interiorsurface; said plug comprising a tubular member having a first endengageable with said neck opening and a second end locatable within saidcontainer; a jaw member of larger diameter than said neck opening hingedto said second end and adapted to engage said container surface insealable relation.
 5. A safety plug of claim 4 including a springtransverse said jaw member to urge said jaw into sealing position.